Betrayed by My Beta Mate

Chapter 97

31 Third Times A Charm

Cayden POV

I’m sitting in a supernatural bar in neutral territory. I can scent warlocks, wolves, vampires, and fae. I haven’t been able to find that b**ch despite how hard I’ve tried. I will not return to the pack until she has paid for all she did to Clara. I can’t bring her back to me, but I can make sure that justice is served. When I learned of this place, I was hopeful that someone would have information that could lead me in the right direction. My mother wanted to come but I convinced her I would do better alone. “What will you have hot stuff,” a pretty vampire says from behind the bar. “A werebeer please”, I say and she winks. A few minutes later, she sets my beer down in front of me and serves someone else. As I take a sip, I feel like I’m being watched. I turn in my seat, looking around the bar. I notice a pretty woman around my mother’s age with long white hair sitting alone in the corner staring at me. When she realizes I’m looking at her she smiles and waves. I’m confused but I get up and walk toward her table anyway. “What the hell are you going to say to her,” Riggs asks. “I really hadn’t thought that far ahead.” “Hello Cayden”, she says and I’m even more confused. I’ve never seen this woman how could she know my name. “Please sit, I am no threat to you”, she says. I sit across from her. “How do you know my name?” “It’s one of my many powers.” “You can guess people’s names” I say and she laughs. “No, I can see your past.” I stiffen at her words.

“Cayden, my name is Selma and I’m sure you can scent that I’m a witch. I can sense that you are a hybrid who is looking for revenge.” “I’m sure if you have seen my past, you understand why I want to end the witch.” She nods “I do and I can help you.” “You’re a black magic witch. You don’t do anything for free. What do you want in exchange for helping me?” “I’m neither light nor dark. I don’t harm others that don’t deserve it, but I have no problem making someone suffer that deserves it. Everything in our world is not as black and white as most would like to think.” “So, you don’t want anything to help me

find that evil witch.” She smiles “let’s just say I have my reasons for helping you, but you will owe me nothing in return.” “How can you trust this woman we don’t even know her” Riggs asks. “I assure you Riggs that I would never hurt Cayden” Selma says inside my head. She is talking to my wolf. How the hell is that possible? She laughs, “anything is possible, but I meant what I said, Cayden, I will not hurt you.” “I’m glad but I don’t understand why you would be so adamant that you won’t hurt me.” “I will tell you that soon enough, but for right now I need you to trust me. I will be in touch when I have the location of the witch you seek.” I nod and she disappears.

I head back to the bar and I take another sip of my beer. “What do you think, Riggs, after all she said to us?” “I don’t know but she is powerful and if she wanted to hurt us, she could have. Something feels familiar about her, but I know we have never met her.” “I agree, I just don’t understand why she is so willing to help us.” A hand on mine brings me out of my conversation with Riggs. My eyes land on the smiling bartender. “I get off in an hour if you want to have some fun” the pretty vampire says and I smile. “If I wasn’t a wolf with a mate out there, I would take you up on that pretty girl.” She smiles and I get up to leave. I want to get back to the cottage to tell my mother about Selma and her offer to help.

Evelyn POV

When Cayden said he was going to a supernatural bar, I was nervous. I know how strong Cayden is, but he has no idea what he is walking into. I finally conceded, but I wasn’t happy to be staying in the cottage while he was putting himself at risk. The only reason I finally agreed is because he is carrying a tracker that will give me his location if he needs help. He has been gone for two hours and I can’t clean the cottage anymore. I take a shower and make myself a cup of tea. I put my hair in a messy bun and head out onto the porch. Sadie has been very quiet since we lost Clara. She shifted so we could run with Cayden, but other than that she hasn’t spoken to me. “Sadie, I miss you.” There is silence for a few minutes. “I’m sorry Evelyn. I felt so broken and I was selfish. I worried about my own grief and I abandoned you when you needed me the most.” “Sadie, I love you and you’re here now. That is what matters. We will get through this together. We have Cayden and the pack. We are strong and we need

to be there for them both.” The phone rings in my pocket and I take it out feeling relief when Cayden’s name flashes on the screen. “Cayden are you alright”, I ask. “Yes mom, I’m on my way back and we have a lot to talk about. I’ll see you soon” he says, and the call disconnects.

I’m glad he is safe and on his way back to the cottage. I wonder what he found out at the bar. “He sounded excited. Maybe he knows where that witch is hiding”, Sadie says. A shiver runs down my spine despite there being no chill in the air. I turn looking out into the darkness, but I can’t see anyone. I take a deep breath in and I don’t scent Grant, but something is definitely out there. It’s faint and Sadie is growling in my mind. I make my way to the door, keeping my eyes toward the darkness. A low growl makes bile rise in my throat. The scent is stronger and everything in me wants to scream. This can’t be happening. It isn’t possible. Could the goddess be giving me a third mate? It can’t be, it’s not possible. I feel like I’m crazy as I keep repeating it in my mind. A large figure steps out from behind the trees. Large is not even a sufficient word to describe this man. He has to be over six foot five. He has a broad chest and arms like tree trunks. Besides his citrus scent, which is making it hard to focus, I can’t tell what type of shifter he is. One thing I know for sure, he is not a wolf. “What do you want,” I finally manage to ask and he chuckles. © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“It seems your mate wants you back, Evelyn.” How can he not know what I am to him? “Cayden masked your scent, Evelyn. He has no idea that we are his mates.” “I would rather die than go back to that ba**ard. You can tell him that.” “I’m not really the messenger type. You will go back with me as soon as your son returns.” “No one will hurt my pup” I say as I shift into Sadie. I jump off the porch and land in front of this wall of a man. Sadie growls and he laughs. That just pisses me off and we jump toward him. He catches my wolf and I feel his body stiffen. “He feels the tingles” Sadie says. He sets us down and we back away from him. Once we shift, he is staring at me with confusion and wonder. “Evelyn” is all he manages to say before he is thrown against the tree by some invisible force. Cayden steps out of the trees and hands me his shirt which I slip over my head. It’s long enough to be a dress. He starts walking toward the man who is groaning on the ground. I grab his arm. “Cayden unmask my scent now.” He looks at me like I’m crazy. “Please just do it and you will understand why”, I say and he

does. As he chants, my mate gets to his feet and shifts into a huge brown bear. Holy sh*t is all I can think as he stalks toward us.

Cayden conjures an energy ball in his hand, but I stop him from throwing it. I start walking toward the bear. “What the hell are you doing mom?” “The goddess has given me another mate. He will not hurt me.” I hope, I say to myself. I stop a few feet from the bear and he starts to sniff the air. He growls but it isn’t in anger. I can see in his eyes that he realizes I’m his mate. He walks toward me and I place my hand on his head. We stay like this for a few minutes before I step back. “Can you shift so we can speak?” He does as I ask and I try not to stare at this beautiful man that is large all over. I turn and Cayden throws him a pair of shorts. Before I can turn back, I’m lifted into strong arms. Tingles erupt all over my skin and he buries his head in the crook of my neck. “What is your name mate?” He pulls back with shock on his face. “Did you just call me mate even knowing why I came here?” I smile and place a hand on his cheek. I hear the cottage door close and I’m grateful that Cayden went inside. “I’m not happy that we met because you were trying to force me to go back to that ba**ard.” “Mine” he growls and I chuckle. “Yes, I am yours. The goddess has chosen to give me a mate despite already having a second chance. That is unheard of in our world and I will not disrespect her by wasting it.” “So will you accept me as your mate?” “Yes, I will, but can you accept that I am part of a pack that I plan to return too.”

I can see he is speaking to his bear. He looks into my eyes and smiles. “My kind very rarely find their fated mate. I would be a fool to throw away such a gift. We will go anywhere you are as long as the pack will have us. My name is Hudson and my bear is Tyson.” “You know my name and my wolf is Sadie.” “May I kiss you Evelyn” he asks so sweetly. I nod and he lifts me and presses his lips to mine. His kiss feels amazing and I melt into him. He pulls back when we are both breathless. “I will protect you and Cayden with my life.” When he includes Cayden, I know he will be nothing like Grant. I take his hand, leading him inside the cottage because we have a lot to talk about. I say a prayer of thanks to the

goddess for bringing me another chance at happiness despite all the chances she has already given me.

A Week Later

Calliope POV

I have taken my rightful place as Alpha of Crescent Moon, but part of me misses the Silver Paw collective. I know the pack needs me, but I had let go of the dream of being Alpha. I miss seeing Carter, Abigale, and Sarah anytime I want to. They visit the pack every day, but it’s not the same. A knock on the door brings me out of my thoughts. Anthony and Benson walk in and I motion for them to take a seat. Bradford and Julie have moved back to the pack. Bradford is ready to retire, which is why I called this meeting. “I wanted to speak to you both because I will need a Beta and Gamma. Bradford is retiring so Anthony you will be talking your rightful place. Benson, I would like you to become Gamma instead of returning to head warrior. I know this will be hard for you after Mateo gave you the title, but it is only right as the Beta position is Anthony’s by birth.” “Alpha, I am honored to be your Gamma and I would never think that I would remain Beta.” “I’m glad because I wouldn’t want anyone else helping me run the pack. We will have the ceremony tomorrow to announce the two new Betas and the Gamma of the Crescent Moon.”